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James Chadwick was the Marconi on the good ship 'John W MacKay' (cableship) when I was 3rd mate aboard from 69 to 72.

An educated, urbane complete piss-head you could not have sailed with a better man. Many and many a night, after coming off watch at 24:00 I would happen to the shack, which was on the boatdeck just forward of the funnel on that ship, and share a Tennants or two. Good memories of years long gone - the best perhaps getting the girls ashore in Curacao before the Old Man got up. Happy days.

I suspect this was a direct employ cableship.
The "John W McKay" was operating of Rio in 1960 and the R/O then was ex Niarchos who nearly got me into a spot of bother coming out late evening in a launch to take me ashore before we had cleared customs and immigration the following morning.
Had a great p...up next day on this lovely vessel and my big regret was being gifted a vibroplex bug key which for reasons stated I forgot to take with me.

He was James for sure though what his 'proper' initials were I have no idea. He came from Dublin which may ring a bell with someone.

In my innocence it never occured to me that all Marconies were not directly Marconies but the concept of direct employment rings true with the John W Mackay which did about everything differently from others.

I'm glad you were aboard of her R651400 - she was indeed a lovely ship, the happiest I ever sailed on and the only one that I can remember with the Radio Office where it should have been in lone splendor on the boat deck, all varnished and pretty.

She sat for a long time on the Thames near Greenwich, somewhere I have a slide of her there, but blowed if I can find it.

She was a classic looking vessel, and a delight to behold. Such a shame she was scrapped, she should have been recycled as a submarine cable and comms museum there - Greenwich is a tad more accessible than Porthcurno !

I'm glad you were aboard of her R651400 - she was indeed a lovely ship, the happiest I ever sailed on and the only one that I can remember with the Radio Office where it should have been in lone splendor on the boat deck, all varnished and pretty.
David

Yes I do remember the radio room and also the officers mess perhaps amidships down some steep steps which got steeper and steeper as the day's revelry went on. I think I dined on board but was too p....d to remember or leaving the JWM on the same launch I mentioned previously. Happy days.